Vince Carter explains why he didn't want to take a diminished role on a superteam

Vince Carter decided to sign with the Atlanta Hawks for his 21st season in the NBA. It was a decision that some applauded, since he didn’t join a team like the Warriors just to win a championship, but some questioned it, asking why doesn’t he just sign with a team like the Warriors so he can win a ring before retiring?

“It just feels right for me,” Carter said Thursday of not signing with a team just to win a title. “…. I probably could have done that anywhere. I still want to play the game. Whatever minutes are there, I want. I enjoy teaching. I’ll do that for any team. That’s not a question. It’s just who I am. I come in from an era where that’s not how it was so that’s still instilled in me. I don’t have any problem with how it’s done now. It’s just not for me.

“Maybe when I can’t contribute as much, maybe when the game has passed me completely, then maybe I go be part of a team where I don’t play as much and reap the benefits of a championship, then maybe so. I think before that happens, I’ll probably retire anyway.”

He averaged 5.4 points while playing 17.7 minutes per game with the Kings in the 2017-18 season.

“The opportunity was there (to sign with Golden State), but they couldn’t match what was offered here. I just didn’t want to sit on the bench. I wanted to be able to play. It’s easy to sit on the bench and ride it out. But it just wasn’t the right thing. Maybe next year. The year after that if I’m still rolling. If. I said, ‘If.’”

But there’s a chance Carter could join a stronger team in the future — about a 10 percent chance. In that same call, per ESPN, he said he feels “90-something percent” sure he’ll retire after this upcoming season.

Vince Carter explains why he didn't want to take a diminished role on a superteam

Vince Carter says right now he still wants to play and he wants to teach.

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